Automatic change-over signal for motion-picture machines.



V. WOOD. AUTOMATIC CHANGE-OVER SIGNAL FOR MOTION PICTURE MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. I918.

1,275,995. PatentedAug.13, 1918.

& mwwtoz tlftoxum UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

vrcToR woon, 0F FORT WORTH, TEXAS, AssIGNoR or ONE-HALF To DE WITT c.

FEEGLES, or FoRT WORTH, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC CHANGE-OVER SIGNAL FOB MOTION-PICTURE MACHINES.

To all tuhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VIo'roR Wool), a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Forth orth, in the county of Tarrant proaching the end in being reeled 01f. The

object is to give a signal or alarm a few seconds before the film will be completely wound off the reel or drum so that preparations may be made for starting another machine in quick succession. The advantage is that much time may be saved in the opera-.-

tion of the machine and suspense in opera tion be avoided. Other objects and advantages will be fully explained in the following description and the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application.

Figure 1 is an elevation, showin the end of a reel casing and a reel wit a film thereon mounted in the casing and showing the improved signaling device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the signaling device. Fig. Bis an enlarged horizontal section of the same. Fig. 4; is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a face view of the plunger or impact member of the plunger which is actuated to strike the bell.

Similar characters of reference are used to indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

The improved signaling device is attached to the casing 1. A striking member 2 is hingedly connected to the interior of the casing 1, having a flattened hinge member 3 and the cooperating hinge member a may be attached by rivets to the casing 1. It is preferable to make the striking member in two parts 5 and 6 and connect the same together by a sleeve 7 which has internally threaded portions 8 and 9, the threads running in opposite directions and the ends of the members 5 and 6 being threaded in opposite directions so that the striking memher 2 will be adjustable in length. The striking member must be rigid and to make Specification of Letters Patent.

. other machine.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

Application filed May 9, 1918. Serial No. 233,543.

the same rigid jam nuts 10 are screwedyin the interior portions of the members 5 and 6 and the jam nuts 11 are screwed on the exterior portions of said members to make the same rigid by bracing them to the sleeve 7. The striking member 2 can be made longer or shorter and made rigid at any adjustment. The striking member carries an antifriction roller 12 which bears against the film 13. While the film is being wound off, the roller 12 bears against the film and follows the film until the film is almost wound off the reel and when the film reel becomes small enough the roller 12 and striker 2 will drop, the roller 12 following substantially the path of the dotted line 1 1 until the roller strikes the impact membe 15 of the plunger 16 which strikes the bell 17. The bell 17 may be attached to the easing- 1 in any suitable manner. When the striking member falls, it will ring the bell 17 and this will be the warning or signal that the film will soon be wound off so that preparations can be made for starting an- The impact member 15 should have a considerable area so that the roller 12 will be certain to strike it. For making the striking member fall through the same space each time, the hinge members 3 and 4 are made relatively wide 50 that the striking member will not swerve to one side, but strike directly on the impact member 15. Various changes in the con struction and arrangement and proportions of the several parts may be made without departing from my invention.

What I claim is .1. A signaling device for motion picture machines comprising in combination with a film reel and its casing, an extensible striking member hingedly connected to the interior of said casing and provided with a roller adapted to bear against the film, and a sounding member attached to said casing and provided with a plunger having an impact face of relatively large area to receive the impact of said roller.

2. A signaling device for motion picture machines comprising in combination with a film reel and its casing, a striking member hingedly connected to said casing and consisting of a sleeve having right and left interior threads and two rod or shaft members engaging said threads and a roller carried by one of said members adapted to bear against the film, and a sounding member attached to said casing and adapted to receive the impact of said roller.

3. A signaling device for motion picture machines comprising. in combination with a film reel and its casing, a striking member hingedly connected to said casing and consisting of a sleeve having right and left interior threads and a rodor shaft in" two parts engaging the threads of said sleeve 10 and held in place thereby and jam nuts bracing said parts against said sleeve and a roller carried by said striking member adapted to bear against the film, and a sounding member consisting of a bell attached to said casing and a plunger for striking said bell provided-with an impact member adapted to receive the impact of said roller.

In testimony whereof I set my hand, this 4th day of May, 1918.

VICTOR WOOD.

Go'p'ies ofthis'patent may be obtained for five' cents each; by addressing the"(l'ommissioner' oi Patents, washington nzc'." 

